Celebrity Equinox enters service

Celebrity Cruises’ newest vessel, the 1220,000grt, 2,850 passenger capacity Celebrity Equinox entered service at the end of July, sailing on her maiden fare paying passenger voyage from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords, following nearly two weeks of launch celebrations in Southampton.

Celebrity Equinox, the second of five sisterships ordered from Germany’s Meyer Werft, will return to Southampton on 8 August and then sail on a 10-night ‘Best of Europe’ cruise to Civitavecchia. She will then undertake a series of 13-night and 14-night ‘Ancient Empires’ cruises from Civitavecchia until October, then transferring to Florida for a winter Caribbean season.

The new vessel offers 11 different types of cabin, ranging in size from 1,291 sq ft for the two Penthouse Suites to 183 sq ft for the interior cabins. There are 130 special AquaClass cabins located on Deck 11 forward, each of 192 sq ft, with a 53 sq ft veranda.  


Passengers occupying these cabins have unlimited access to the AquaSpa relaxation room and Persian Garden, guaranteed complimentary dining in the ‘clean cuisine Blu restaurant, Hansgrohe shower panel, Frette robe and slippers; expanded personal care products including a spa kit, Spa Concierge, upgraded room service menu and exclusive continental breakfast in Blu.
  
Celebrity Equinox is one of the ‘greenest’ cruise ships yet to be built. Her green credentials are as follows:

• She is the industry’s second vessel (after sistership Celebrity Solstice) to use solar energy, with 234 foils and 61 panels – enough to power all of the ship’s passenger elevators, or more than 7,000 LED lights
• The hull was designed explicitly with energy efficiency in mind, with every angle closely tested and examined to achieve optimal cruising speed, passenger comfort, and fuel consumption
• A special silicon coating has been applied to the entire underwater area of the hull to reduce frictional resistance and trim fuel consumption, as well as inhibit marine growth
• She uses longer-lasting fluorescent and LED lights rather than higher wattage halogen and incandescent light bulbs, which generate less than 50% of the heat of the bulbs previously used, resulting in reduced energy consumption and more efficient air-conditioning
• The high-glazed glass of Celebrity Equinox’s windows reduces heat transfer into cabins and public areas, in turn reducing energy required for air-conditioning
• Advanced wastewater purification systems have been installed, capable of treating all wastewater streams onboard – including grey and black water – and restoring it close to drinking-water quality before releasing, along with low-energy reverse osmosis plants (water makers) for the production of fresh drinking water. Sphere: Related Content